We conducted a cross-sectional study to assess how the top 3 highest circulation newspapers from 25 countries are comparing and presenting COVID-19 epidemiological data to their readers. Of 75 newspapers evaluated, 51(68%) presented at their websites at least one comparison of cases and/or deaths between regions of their country and/or between countries. Quality assessment of the comparisons showed that only a minority of newspapers adjusted the data for population size in case comparisons between regions (37.2%) and between countries (25.6%), and the same was true for death comparisons between regions (27.3%) and between countries (27%). Of those making comparisons, only 13.7% explained the difference in the interpretation of cases and deaths. Of 17 that presented a logarithmic curve, only 29.4% explained its meaning. Although the press plays a key role in conveying correct medical information to the general public, we identified inconsistencies in the reporting of COVID-19 epidemiological data.
Supplementary Information
The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1057/s41271-021-00298-7.
We conducted a cross-sectional study to assess how newspapers from 25 countries are comparing and presenting COVID-19 epidemiological data to their readers. Of 75 newspapers evaluated, 51(68%) presented at their websites at least one comparison of cases and/or deaths between regions of their country and/or between countries. Quality assessment of the comparisons showed that only a minority of newspapers adjusted the data for population size in case comparisons between regions (37,2%) and between countries (25,6%), and the same was true for death comparisons between regions (27,3%) and between countries (27%). Of those making comparisons, only 13,7% explained the difference in the interpretation of cases and deaths. Of 17 that presented a logarithmic curve, only 29,4% explained its meaning. Although the press plays a key role in conveying correct medical information to the general public, researchers and journalists need to work more closely together to provide more accurate information.
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